MIAMI (Reuters) - Like many other elderly Americans, Edie Stark has been hard hit by the meltdown in U.S. financial markets. She is 84 and has been worried a lot lately about outliving her savings.

(Linda Stern is a freelance writer. Any opinions in the column are solely those of Ms. Stern. You can e-mail her at

LONDON (Reuters) - British finance minister Alistair Darling is considering tougher laws to force banks to lend to small businesses which are struggling with the global credit crunch, newspapers reported on Friday.

BOSTON (Reuters) - Wall Street's pain is rippling through U.S. small businesses, as bankers who once pulled in million-dollar bonuses lose their jobs and cut back spending on everything from parties to home improvements.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Exasperated U.S. lawmakers criticized Federal Reserve and Treasury Department efforts to shore up the faltering economy on Thursday, telling officials that their financial rescue efforts have not reached small businesses or homeowners.

TOKYO (Reuters) - The global credit crunch is starting to chill lending in Japan, squeezing companies that have so far escaped the worst of the crisis gripping the much of the industrialized world.

(Reuters) - Business software maker Lawson Software Inc said it plans to cut 200 jobs, close one office facility and reduce discretionary expenses as part of a plan to cut costs.

(Reuters) - U.S. bankruptcy court for the District of Delaware approved Lance Inc as the lead bidder for the assets of two privately held snack food companies.

TORONTO (Reuters) - Fewer Canadian companies are on the receiving end of venture capital investments this year, and those that manage to get funding are getting fewer dollars, according to data released by an industry group on Tuesday.

(Reuters) - Athletic-clothing retailer Pacific Sunwear of California Inc posted a quarterly loss from continuing operations hurt by a slowdown in consumer spending and forecast a fourth-quarter loss, sending its shares down 5 percent.